Wife of Chester mayor speaks about carjacking ordeal

By 21st-Century Media

Thursday, May 15, 2014

(Updated at 3:30 p.m.) CHESTER — The wife of Chester Mayor John Linder was the victim of a carjacking incident in which an armed man held a gun to her head Wednesday night, officials said. She was not injured in the ordeal, while calling it “very upsetting, something no one should ever have to go through.”

Police say the incident occurred in the 500 block of Reaney Street as the mayor’s wife, Deena, was parking her gold-colored 2005 Ford Taurus. Authorities say one of two men approached the car and confronted her. One of the suspects then held a gun to her head and demanded the car. Police believe the men were coming from a robbery incident nearby.

Deena Linder got out of the car, and the two men then jumped in and fled toward I-95, authorities said. Linder was not seriously injured in the assault

Police now say they have charged one man in the incident and released three others, who remain “persons of interest” in the case. The vehicle also was recovered a short distance away at West Seventh and Norris streets in Chester.

Jasper Gregory Moy, 24, of Chester, faces charges of robbery, aggravated assault and related firearms offenses. He was arraigned and remanded to Delaware County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Police said they used a K-9 unit to track the three suspects to their home. Police say all three men were arrested, taken into custody and processed.

Mayor Linder this morning said the attackers did not target his wife, calling it simply the latest example of “random violence” that is plaguing the city. He vowed not to back away from his pledge to deal with street crime in the city.

“She happened to be coming back at the same time that they happened to be coming down the street and that was it,” the mayor said.

“When I looked they were right in front of me,” said Deena Linder of her ordeal. “It’s very upsetting. It’s something no one should ever have to go through.

“I just thank God I came through it.”

Mayor Linder and his wife late this morning took sanctuary at an unknown location.

The investigation by Chester Police and county detectives continues.

This latest incident comes as Linder is reaching out to county officials for help in combatting the city’s continuing problems with street violence.

Last week Linder was joined by county District Attorney Jack Whelan in touring crime-plagued city neighborhoods.

EARLIER VERSION OF THIS STORY

CHESTER - The wife of Chester Mayor John Linder was the victim of a carjacking incident in which an armed man held a gun to her head Wednesday night, officials said. She was not injured in the ordeal.

Police say the incident occurred in the 500 block of Reaney Street as the mayor’s wife sat in her gold-colored 2005 Ford Taurus. Authorities say one of two men approached the car and confronted her. One of the suspects then held a gun to her head and demanded the car. Police believe the men were coming from a robbery incident nearby.

Mrs. Linder got out of the car, and the two men then jumped in and fled toward I-95, authorities said. She was not seriously injured in the assault

Police now say they have three men in custody in the incident. The vehicle also was recovered.

Police said they used a K-9 unit to track the three suspects to their home. Police say all three men were arrested, taken into custody and are currently being processed. They have not yet revealed their identities.

The investigation continues.

This latest incident comes as Linder is reaching out to county officials for help in combatting the city’s continuing problems with street violence.

Last week Linder was joined by county District Attorney Jack Whelan in touring crime-plagued city neighborhoods.